The Store

To start off this book is a really nothing more then of a thinly veiled stab at the policies of corporate America, mainly Wal-Mart and it's ilk, and consumerism all wrapped up in a twisted horror story bow. It's well done for a horror story despite the social commentary (which Little is amazing at, btw. It never comes off as preachy or heavy handed despite the fact that it constantly shouts "this is really going on"). I've read a lot of horror, lot of twisted books, but this one has stuck with me like no other. It still pops into my head even after 10+ years of reading it. It made me really question things and really think about where and how I buy things. I haven't felt right walking into a chain store since.The thing about it is there is so much based in reality, so much you can see on a day to day basis. It really gets you to force your own view and perspective on the story, gets you to open your eyes and connects your own reality with that of the story. Yet, like the characters in the book, not many people really see a lot of wrong, or haven't put two and two together. The real horror and scariness is how much everything is grounded in reality. The book also ends on a note, not unlike 1984, that just makes you question things about your own personal life and how you want to proceed. It leaves you vulnerable, open, and uncomfortable. Yet never quite shows or tells you what to do. Which honestly is perfect.Really a must read. But don't blame or the author for anything that happens after.

At first glance, The Store might appear to be a rehash of Stephen King's Needful Things. Both deal with rather sinister shops, but the similarities essentially end there. Bentley Little's novel is a dark satire that is well-written and suspenseful, although it does fall apart a little at the end.The story focuses on Bill Davis, whose family resides in the small Arizona town of Juniper. Juniper is one of those middle-of-nowhere towns in which there is not much in the way of shopping choices, and in fact, most of the times, the residents must go out of town to get what they need. Into this sleepy village comes The Store, a generically-named, sinister (but obvious) version of Wal Mart. The Store offers a great selection and low prices. Unfortunately, The Store also offers much more to those who wander down the wrong aisles: racist video games, snuff films and cheap explosives. It also has a rather rigid employment policy which requires dark rituals to get hired and severe consequences for disobedience or quitting. Then there are the mysterious Night Managers...As with most of Little's best novels, this succeeds both as horror novel and satire. It is exciting reading, but as with many horror novels, the ending is a bit weak. Also, while we are expected to suspend our disbelief for supernatural fiction, there should at least be plausibility, and in some of the events of this story, such plausibility is a bit lacking. These flaws keep The Store from being a great book, but it is still pretty darn good and - though not Little's best effort - it is a fun read.

I found myself amused, disgusted, worried, probably a few other emotions as well. I appreciate the vocabulary because there were some words in not used to, but not enough to get frustrating, it was fun. With the way the story is told I had questions, but I got some answers and I got to know the characters along the way. The Store also made me think, which I always enjoy from a horror book. If you like horror books this is a good one to try.

It just never tied in the people from the first car drive we experienced, none of the characters were particularly likable, the story was redundant with vile abusive language that was revolting and from reading reviews as well, none of the mysteries of certain characters would be resolved or explained. I was 3/4 thru and really struggling to keep reading. Read the reviews and the last two chapters were talked about as disappointing wrap ups. I skimmed them and it was just more of revolting stories.One thing I also couldn’t get over is the lack of believability. Corruption yes, beyond legal responses outside the town, no. Indentured servitude is not legal- FBI could be called to help. Stealing someone’s baby in the hospital Because they didn’t finish layaway payments FBI would be called. It just wasn’t believable. I wanted to love it but I just couldn’t. And the incest story at the end added to the revolting nature. There was no reprieve ever to enjoy anything in the book. It caused tons of stress, especially if you’ve been through any corporate BS in your life. Bummer. :( I am not recommending it. Love the idea of it through.

This is my 3rd book im reading by Bentley little. Each book has been so different, and i have loved them all. I think a book is done, and he makes a twist, when i thought a twist had already happened. He is a great author, and im excited to read another of his many books

Book arrived really quickly, and in good condition. It is old but I expected that. I cannot comment on the content as I am saving it for the beach n the summer, don't like taking my Kindle there!! This book was recommended to me by an american friend who said the surreal story about a large store taking over the lives of everyone in a town was very relevant today.

Juniper ist ein winziges Kaff in der Wüste von Arizona und entsprechend groß ist die Begeisterung unter den Eingeborenen als die Kaufhauskette The Store verkündet, eben dort eine Filiale zu eröffnen. Die Stadtväter räumen dem Konzern ohne zu zögern lästige Steinchen wie Gewerbesteuer oder Bauvorschriften aus dem Weg, gilt es doch, die Wirtschaft zu stärken, die ja bekanntlich selbstlos Arbeitsplätze und somit Wohlstand für alle schafft. Einige mysteriöse Todesfälle schon während der Bauarbeiten werden folgerichtig als bedauerliche aber unvermeidliche Kollateralschäden des Konsumkapitalismus eingestuft und sind auch schon vergessen, als endlich der heiß ersehnte Tag der Eröffnung da ist.Das Warenangebot in dem riesigen Laden ist sensationell und muss keinen Vergleich mit den berühmten Einkaufstempeln der Metropolen zu scheuen; selbst Kunden mit exotischen Vorlieben für Nazi-Spiele oder Snuff-Movies kommen im Store voll auf ihre Kosten. Dazu gibt es reichlich Billig-Jobs für die dankbare Bevölkerung, Kleinstadtherz, was willst du mehr?Bill Davis, Software-Autor und Familienvater, verfolgt die Euphorie um den Store mit Skepsis und Sorge, zumal auch seine beiden Teenie-Töchter dort beschäftigt sind, die von allerlei seltsamen Ritualen berichten. Bald bestätigen sich seine Befürchtungen, denn der Store zeigt schnell sein wahres Gesicht: Inhaber kleiner Läden werden mit Geld oder Gewalt außer Konkurrenz gesetzt, während man selbst die Produktvielfalt reduziert, die Preise erhöht und die Löhne senkt. Die Stadt, die sich bereitwillig in Abhängigkeit des Konzerns begab, geht dafür Pleite und der Store übernimmt auch diese Aufgaben, selbstredend zu seinen Bedingungen. Bill sammelt verzweifelt Material gegen den Moloch, stößt aber überall an Grenzen und so ist er umso überraschter, als er eines Tages eine Einladung nach Dallas erhält, zum legendären Konzernchef persönlich...Auf Buch und Autor bin ich durch die Amazon-Empfehlungen gestoßen, bisweilen findet man dort echte Perlen. "The Store" ist natürlich nur vordergründig ein Horror-Roman und Bentley Little streut die genre-üblichen Zutaten eher pflichtschuldig als überzeugt ein. Er nutzt vielmehr die Stilmittel der Gattung für eine herzerfrischend bitterböse Kapitalismuskritik reinsten Wassers, indem er die dort systemimmanenten Prozesse pointiert überspitzt und die Verantwortlichen zu Monstern mutieren lässt. Souverän räumt er mit auch hierzulande oft nachgebrabbelten Mythen der Neoliberalen auf, die alles dem Primat der Ökonomie unterordnen möchten.Der Roman ist flott und stringent geschrieben, die Handlung verläuft weitgehend linear und weist etliche kleine Höhepunkte auf, wie z.B. die Tatsache, dass das perfekte all-american-girl Samantha im Store eine fast skrupellose Blitzkarriere hinlegt, während Bills andere, eher unangepasste Tochter Shannon wesentlich weniger empfänglich für derartigen Blödsinn ist. Ich habe inzwischen weitere Bücher von Bentley Little gelesen und bin sehr angetan nicht nur von deren Spannungsgehalt, sondern auch von der Vielseitigkeit des Autors. Etliche Werke sind bereits in Deutsch erschienen bzw. folgen noch, ich kann sie reinen Gewissens und wärmsten Herzens empfehlen.

This book started off slow but quickly picked up pace about midway through. The premise is a great one, a evil huge box store takes over control of a small town along with its people. Sound interesting? Maybe...My one gripe with this book was the scene where 'THe Store' took the first born from a woman in the hospital who owed payments on her microwave through The Store's layaway plan. The very idea was over the top and I couldn't wrap my mine about it to make myself believe it.Another bad moment was the ending which came and passed very easily. It was dissapointing to say the least since I expected some big blowout with The Store's CEO and the Manager.I give it four stars for originality and the writing was better than average. And while the book had its low points, I think it's still worth the read.

A little slow starting, but when the pace picks up it does so frighteningly fast. The book is cleverly written as a metaphor for how big chain stores are killing off the high street - it's the first book I have read from this author and will definitely be reading more! Gripping stuff.

This is the first Bentley Little book I have read and now I will be definitely be reading more. This is more a suspense or mystery novel than horror although there are some supernatural elements to it and a little violence but no real gore. This book stirs fear for different reasons...A Store opens up in a small town and quickly begins transforming the town for the worse. The Store sets about wiping out any and all competition by any means necessary, taking over the town council, school and even the police and people who don't agree with what's happening either die or go missing. The main character is one of these dissenters. He tries in vain to release the strangle-hold The Store has over the town and also his family with little success.This book got under my skin because I only have to walk around my own town and see that the majority of stores are these huge conglomerate monsters that proffer at the expense of the smaller family shops. Where this book excels is that it makes you think about whether some of the tactics The Store uses to gain control could also be used on our very own streets. In reality, how far are we from major companies owning everything? But,in exploring this topic Bentley Little's story doesn't get bogged down in political rantings and soap-box screaming instead he takes a 'What-if?' situation and spins a terrific, solid tale that is as intellectual as it is entertaining.The only reason I'm not giving it the full five stars is because the ending didn't really answer all the questions the story posed, but maybe you'll like that. Even though the book is just over 500 pages long, it's very involving and unpredictable and I got through it quite quickly. I just hope that this book stays as fiction and not some horrible prediction of things to come. Thank you.